Question - Flash photography verses light painting?

[The Lone Ranger]

This is more aimed at very dark spaces - ie. mines, culverts, tunnels and Immingham in general.

I have always used torches on long exposure shots to provide additional light, create shadows and illuminate a point of interest. Only on a few occasions have I used the flash on the camera to fill in, but always in conjunction with light painting.

Reason for the question is I'm tempted to get a flash, well a couple possibly as I have seen some fantastic results; alas mainly down caves.

Anyone tried remote flashes while exploring? The problems I see are they are expensive, probably need a few, takes time to set up, extra bulk to cart around and something else to break, flood or loose while out and about.

Cheers for any feedback

 

[Oxygen Thief]

I've seen it done with good results, but it's a lot of extra kit and a lot of faffing around. It's definitely more 'photography' then 'exploring'.

 

[The Lone Ranger]

That is more or less my thoughts, will have to find something else to spend my pennies on

There's a few places I know where I could play, but a lot of money for something I feel I wouldn't use too often as flashes aren't that great for landscape photography either when I'm out on my strolls.

 

[GAJ]

Download startrails then take a few shots from the same spot lighting up the individual parts how you want with your torch. Startrails will then stack them using the lightest parts of the frame which can give some decent results. Still a faff, but it can give the same effect as having multiple light sources without too much messing around.

This was 3 exposures using 1 torch stacked that way, & although it's not an amazing shot, it kinda shows what you can do.

 

[Oort]

Download startrails

Done. That'll come in handy, thanks

 

[Oxygen Thief]

Yeah, thanks GAJ, will try that out.

 

[Ojay]

Pfft, stacking shots next you'll be bracketing everything and wearing a gas mask

 

[GAJ]

I can barely spell Gas Mask so think the world is safe :

I've only done this sort of thing when I actually remember firstly to take my camera out of the bag, & secondly if I remember this is piss easy to do. Doesn't happen often at all. Think I've only done here & one other shot as I wanted to try it out with limited light sources.

I'll stick to HISO selfies I think

 

[Adders]

Is the tilted effect also a feature of StarTrail? :

 

[GAJ]

A severe case of CBA probably :

 

[Ojay]

Green light isn't l33t either, go red or go home

 

[Speed]

I gave up with flash after they brought out affordable cree LED torches. It works but it was an arse to drag around extra kit. Alot of my early cinema pics are flash as it was the only way to light a big dark space.

 

[Squirrell 911]

I gave up with flash after they brought out affordable cree LED torches. It works but it was an arse to drag around extra kit. Alot of my early cinema pics are flash as it was the only way to light a big dark space.

I do recall him running round like a tit in the State cinema to light up the auditorium. :)

 

[Bunk3r]

Yeah, I did my stint of getting into photography as a result of getting into exploring as a result I have played with flashes to reasonable effect, though in terms of exploring my thoughts would be this:

-its fun using a remote to fire the flash
-You need a beefy (壣) flash to come anything close to 30s of cree
-you can 'freeze' the action with a flash, but explorers get pretty good at standing still and counting to 30, so only very limited times this is an advantage.
-given point 2 you end up repeatedly firing the flash, so end up with a long exposure anyway.
-If you have flashes with remotes for other aspects of photography no problems using them exploring (given consideration to not drawing attention as always), but no need to buy for exploring especially given the drop in cost of seriously bright lights.

 

[Ojay]

We need a torchchat forum, I might set one up